Irish American Partnership
Developed to address the problem of educational underachievement, the Early Learning Initiative (ELI) at the National College of Ireland works in the areas of greatest need, providing world-class parent and child learning support programs.
By just three years of age, differences in language and math development are evident between children from advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds. ELI is addressing this disparity before children start preschool in the hope of narrowing this gap.
The Partnership is ensuring that thousands of at-risk children will have the language, literacy and numeracy skills needed for success in education, career, and life. Thank you.
– Josephine Bleach, Director, Early Learning Initiative
Focusing on the community’s most vulnerable families with children aged between 3.5 and 7 years old, ELI provides each family with an average of 26 home visits each year. The home visitor program supports parents in building vital parenting skills and confidence in supporting the child’s development and education. Families receive thoughtful guidance and educational resources.
The initiative has grown from 400 participants a year to over 14,000 and moved beyond its initial Dublin Docklands catchment area to now support other communities across the country.
Thanks to your generosity, the Irish American Partnership continues to support the essential and innovative work of the Early Learning Initiative.